How Do I Set My Default Reader to Adobe?

By Kefa Olang

PDF (Portable Document Format) files are documents that are distributed on the Internet and over networks. You can either download them to your computer or view them in your Web browser. If you choose to download PDF documents, you can configure the default reader program to launch them with. Whether you are using Windows Vista, 7 or XP, you can change your default reader to Adobe Reader in just minutes.

Windows Vista and 7

Step 1

Step 2

Click the "Associate a file type or protocol with a program." Select the PDF file type and click "Change Program." Select "Adobe Reader." If you do not see Adobe Reader, click "Other Programs," and click "Adobe Reader." Click the "Browse" button if you are still unable to see the Adobe Reader, then select the program from the location you saved it to during the installation and click "Open."

Step 3

Click "OK" to save the changes and make Adobe Reader the default PDF reader.

Windows XP

Step 1

Locate the PDF file you want to open and right-click it. Scroll down the pop-up menu and click "Open With." A new pop-up window launches.

Step 2

Select "Adobe Reader" from the programs list in the window. Click the "Always use the selected program to open this kind of file" check box.

Step 3

Click "OK" to save the changes and make Adobe Reader the default PDF reader.